1919 
Copy 1 



v'\\A 



"H Congress"! 
1st Session J 



SENATE 



/Document 
1 No. 



65 



TREATY WITH POLAND 



TREATY OF PEACE 

BETWEEN 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

THE BRITISH EMPIRE 

FRANCE, ITALY, AND JAPAN 



AND 



POLAND 

SIGNED AT VERSAILLES 

ON 

JUNE 28, 1919 




PRESENTED BY MR. LODGE 
August 1, 1919. — Ordered to be printed 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1919 



D. 

AUG 



Of J. 

i5 1919 



TREATY WITH POLAND. 



TreaI'y of Peace Betaveen the United Si^ates of America, the 
British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan and Poland. 

[Treaty Series No. 8 (1919).] 

Letter addressed to M. Paderewski by tlie President of the Confer- 
ence transmitting- to liini tlie Treaty to he signed by Poland nnder 
Article 93 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany. 

Paris, June 2 If, 1919. 

Sir: On behalf of the Supreme Council of the Principal Allied 
and Associated Powers, I have the honour to communicate to you 
herewith in its final form the text of the Treaty which, in accordance 
with Article 93 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, Poland will 
be asked to sign on the occasion of the confirmation of her recogni- 
tion as an independent State and of the transference to her of the 
tei-ritories included in the former German Empire which are assigned 
to her by the said Treaty. The principal provisions were communi- 
cated to" the Polish Delegation in Paris in IMay last, and were sub- 
sequently communicated direct to the Polish Government through 
the French Minister at Warsaw. The Council have since had the 
advantage of the suggestions which you were good enough to con- 
vey to them in your memorandum of the 16th June, and as the re- 
sult of a study of these suggestions modifications have been intro- 
duced in the text of the Treaty. The Council believe that it will 
be found that by these modifications the principal points to which 
attention was drawn in your memorandum have, in so far as they 
relate to specific provisions of the Treaty, been adequately covered. 

In formally communicating to you the final decision of the Prin- 
cipal Allied and Associated Powers in this matter, I should desire 
to take this opportunity of explaining in a more formal manner than 
has hitherto been done the considerations by which the Principal 
Allied and Associated Powers have been guided in dealing with the> 
question. 

1. In the first place, I would point out that this Treaty does not 
constitute any fresh departure. It has for long been the established 
procedure of the public law of Europe that when a State is created, 
or even when large accessions of territory are made to an established 
State, the joint and formal recognition by the Great Powers should 
be accompanied by the requirement that such State should, in the 
forui of a binding international convention, undertake to comply 
with certain principles of government. This principle, for which 
there are numerous other precedents, received the most explicit 
sanction when, at the last great assembly of European Powers — the 
Congress of Berlin — the sovereignty and independence of Serbia, 

3 



4 TREATY WITH POLAND. 

Montenegro, and Eoiimania were recognised. It is desirable to re- 
call the words used on this occasion by the British, French, Italian, 
and German Plenipotentiaries, as recorded in the Protocol of the 
28th June, 1878 : 

Lord Salisbury recoi-nises the independence of >^ei-l)ici, but is of opinion that 
it would be desirable to stipulate in tbe I'rincipality the great principle of 
religious liberty. 

Mr. Waddington believes that it is important to take advantage of this 
solemn opportunity to cause the principles of religious liberty to l)e alarmed 
by the representatives of Europe. His Excellency adds that Serl)ia, who 
claims to enter the European family on the same basis as other States, must 
],reviously recognise the principles which are the basis of social organisation 
in all States of Europe and accept them as a necessary condition of the favour 
Avhich she asks for. 

Prince Bismarck, associating himself with the French proposal, declares 
that the assent of Germany is always assured to any motion favourable to 
religious liberty. 

Count de Launay says that, in the name of Italy, he desires to adhere 
to the principle of religious liberty, which forms one of the essential bases of 
the institutions in his country, and that he associates himself with the 
declarations made on this subject by Germany, France, and Gi-eat Britain. 

Count Andrassy expresses himself to the same effect, and the Ottoman 
Plenipotentiaries raise no objection. 

Prince Bismarck, after having summed up the results of the vote, declares 
that Germany admits the independence of Serbia, but on condition that re- 
ligious liberty will be recognised in the Principality. His Serene Highness 
adds that the Drafting Connnittee, when they fornuilate this decision, will 
aflirm the connection established by the Conference between the proclamation 
of Serbian independence and the recognition of religious liberty. 

2. The Principal Allied and Associated Powers are of opinion: 
that they would be false to the responsibility which rests upon them 
if on this occasion they departed from what has become an established 
tradition. In this connection I must filso recall to your considera- 
tion the fact that it is to the endeavours and sacrifices of the Powers 
in whose name I am addressing you that the Polish nation owes the 
recovery of its independence. It is by their decision that Polish 
sovereignty is being re-established over the territories in question 
and that the inhabitants of these territories are being incorpo^-ated 
in the Polish nation. It is on the support which the resotu'ces of 
tltese Powers will afford to the League of Nations that for the future 
Poland will to a large extent depend for the secure possession of 
these territories. There rests, therefore, upon these Powers an obli- 
gation, which they cannot evade, to secure in the most permanent 
and solemn form guarantees for certain essential rights which Avill 
afford to the inhabitants the necessary protection whatever changes 
may take place in the internal constitution of the Polish State. 

It is in accordance with this obligation that Clause 93 was inserted 
in the Treaty of Peace with Germany. This clause relates only to 
Poland, Init a similar clause applies the same principles to Czecho- 
slovakia, and other clauses have been inserted in the Treaty of Peace 
with Austria and will be inserted in those with Hungary and with 
Bulgaria, under wdiich similar obligations will be undertaken by 
other States, which under those Treaties receive large accessions of 
territory. 

The consideration of these facts will be sufficient to show that by 
the requirement addressed to Poland at the time when it receives in 



TKEATY WITH POLAND. 

the most solemn manner the joint recog:nition of the re-establishment 
of its sovereignty and independence and when large accessions of ter- 
ritory are being assigned to it, no doubt is thrown upon the sincerity 
of the desire of the Polish Government and the Polish nation to 
maintain the general principles of justice and liberty. Any such 
doubt Avould be far from the intention of the Principal Allied and 
Associated Powers. 

3. It is indeed true that the new Treaty differs in form from 
earlier Conventions dealing with similar matters. The change of 
form is a necessary consequence and an essential part of the new 
system of international relations which is now being built up by the 
establishment of the League of Nations. Under the older system the 
guarantee for the execution of similar provisions was vested in the 
Great Powers. Experience has shown that this was in practice 
ineffective, and it was also open to the criticism that it might give 
to the Great Powers, either individually or in combination, a right 
to interfere in the internal constitution of the States affected which 
could be used for political purposes. Under the new system the 
gTiarantee is entrusted to the League of Nations. The clauses deal- 
ing with this guarantee have been carefully drafted so as to make it 
clear that Poland will not be in any way under the tutelage of those 
Powers who are signatories to the Treaty. 

I should desire, moreover, to j^oint out to you that provision tias 
been inserted in the treaty by which disputes arising out of its 
provisions may be brought before the Court of the League of Nations. 
In this way differences which might arise will be removed from the 
political sphere and placed in the hands of a judicial court, and it 
is hoped that thereby an impartial decision will be facilitated, 
while at the same time any danger of political interference by the 
Powers in the internal affairs of Poland will be avoided. 

4. The particular provisions to which Poland and the other States 
will be asked to adhere differ to some extent from' those which were 
imposed on the new States at the Congress of Berlin. But the 
obligations in^posed upon new States seeking recognition have at all 
times varied with the particular circumstances. The Kingdom of the 
United Netherlands in 1814 formally undertook precise obligations 
with regard to the Belgian provinces at that time annexed to the 
kingdom which formed an important restriction on the unlimite'l 
exercise of its sovereignt3^ It was determined at the establishment 
of the Kingdom of Greece that the Government of that State should 
take a particular form, viz., it should be both monarchial and consti- 
tutional; when Thessaly was annexed to Greece, it was stipulated 
that the lives, property, honour, religion and customs of those of 
the inhabitants of the localities ceded to Greece, who remained under 
the Hellenic administration should be scrupulously respected, and 
that they should enjoy exactly the same civil and political rights as 
Hellenic subjects of origin. In addition, very precise stipulations 
were inserted safeguarding the interests of the Mohammedan popu- 
lation of these territories. 

The situation with which the Powers have now to deal is new, 
and experience has shown that new provisions are necessary. The 
territories now being transferred both to Poland and to other States 



6 TREATY WITH POLAND. 

inevitably include a large population speaking languages and be- 
longing to races different from that of the people with whom they 
will be incorporated. Unfortunately, the races have been estranged 
by long years of bitter hostility. It is believed that these popula- 
tions will be more easily reconciled to their new position if they 
know that from the very beginning they have assured protection and 
adequate guarantees against any danger of unjust treatment or 
opj)ression. The very knowledge that these guarantees exist will, 
it is hoped, materially help the reconciliation which all desire, and 
will indeed do much to prevent the necessity of its enforcement. 

5. To turn to the individual clauses of the present Treaty. Article 
2 guarantees to all inhabitants those elementary rights, which are, 
as a matter of fact, secured in every civilised State. Clauses 3 to 6 
are designed to insure that all the genuine residents in the terri- 
tories now transferred to Polish sovereignty shall in fact be assured 
of the full privileges of citizenship. Articles 7 and 8, which are in 
accordance with precedent, provide against any discrimination 
against those Polish citizens who by their religion, their language, 
or their race, differ from the large mass of the Polish population. 
It is understood that, far from raising any objection to the matter 
of these articles, the Polish Government have already, of their own 
accord, declared their firm intention of basing their institutions on 
the cardinal principles enunciated therein. 

The following articles are of rather a different nature in that they 
provide more special privileges to certain groups of these minori- 
ties. In the final revision of these latter articles, the Powers have 
been impressed by the suggestions made in your memorandum of 
the 16th June, and the ai'ticles have in consequence been subjected 
to some material modifications. In the final text of the Treaty it 
has been made clear that the special privileges accorded in Article 
9 are extended to Polish citizens of German speech only in such 
parts of Poland as are, by the Treaty with Germany, transferred 
from Germany to Poland. Germans in other parts of Poland will 
be unable under this article to claim to avail themselves of these 
privileges. They will therefore in this matter be dependent solely 
on the generosity of the Polish Government, and will in fact be in 
the same position as German citizens of Polish speech in Germany. 

6. Clauses 10 and 12 deal specifically with the Jewish citizens of 
Poland. The information at this disposal of the Principal Allied 
and Associated Powers as to the existing relations between the Jews 
and the other Polish citizens has led them to the conclusion that, in 
view of the historical development of the Jewish question and the great 
animosity aroused by it, special protection is necessary for the Jews 
in Poland. These clauses have been limited to the minimum which 
seems necessary under the circumstances of the present day, viz., 
the maintenance of Jewish schools and the protection of the Jews 
in the religious observance of their Sabbath. It is believed that these 
stipulations will not create anj^ obstacle to the political unity of 
Poland. They do not constitute any recognition of the Jews as a 
separate political community within the Polish State. The educa- 
tional provisions contain nothing beyond what is in fact provided 
in the educational institutions of many highly organised modern 
States. There is nothing inconsistent with the sovereignty of the 



TREATY WITH POLAND. 7 

State in recognising and supporting scliools in which children shall 
be brought up in the religious influences to which they are accus- 
tomed in their home. Ample safeguards against any use of non- 
Polish languages to encourage a spirit of national separation have 
been provided in the express acknowledgment that the provisions 
of this Treaty do not prevent the Poli&'h State from making the 
Polish language obligatory in all its schools and educational insti- 
tutions. 

7. The economic clauses contained in Cliapter II of the Treaty 
have been drafted with the view of facilitating the establishment of 
equitable commercial relations between independent Poland and the 
other Allied and Associated Powers. They include provisions for 
reciprocal diplomatic and consular representation, for freedom of 
transit, and for the adhesion of the Polish Government to certain 
international conventions. 

In these clauses the Principal Allied and Associated Powers have 
not been actuated b}^ any desire to secure for themselves special com- 
mercial advantages. It will be observed that the rights accorded to 
them by these clauses are extended equally to all States who are 
members of the League of Nations. Some of the provisions are 
of a transitional chai-acter, and have been introduced only with the 
necessary object of bridging over the short interval which must 
elapse before general regulations can be established by Poland herself 
or by commercial treaties or general conventions approved by the 
League of Nations. 

In conclusion, I am to express to you on behalf of the Allied and 
Associated Powers the very sincere satisfaction which they feel at 
the re-establishment of Poland as an independent State. They cor- 
dially' welcome the Polish nation on its re-entry into the family of 
nations. They recall the great services wdiich tlie ancient Kingdom 
of Poland rendered to Europe both in public affairs and by its con- 
tributions to the progress of mankind which is the common work 
of all civilised nations. They believe that the voice of Poland will 
add to the wisdom of their common deliberations in the cause of 
peace and harmony, that its influence will be used to further the 
spirit of liberty and justice, both in internal and external affairs, 
and that thereby it will help in the work of reconciliation between 
the nations which, with the conclusion of Peace, will be the common 
task of humanity. 

The Treaty by which Poland solemnly declares before the world 
her determination to maintain the principles of justice, liberty, and 
toleration, which were the guiding spirit of the ancient Kingdom 
of Poland, and also receives in its most explicit and binding form 
the confirmation of her restoration to the family of independent 
nations, will be signed by Poland and by the Principal Allied and 
Associated Powers on the occasion of, and at the same time as, the 
signature of the Treaty of Peace wdth Germany. 

I have, &c. 

Clemenceau. 



The LTnifed States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy 
and Japan, the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, on the one 
hand ; and Poland on the other hand ; 



8 TREATY WITH POLAND. 

Whereas the Allied and Associated Powers have by the success of 
their arms restored to the Polish nation the independence of which it 
had been unjustly deprived; and 

Whereas by the proclamation of March 30, 1917, the Government of 
Russia assented to the re-establishment of an independent Polish 
State; and 

Whereas the Polish State, which now in fact exercises sovereignty 
over those portions of the former Russian Empire which are in- 
habited by a majority of Poles, has already been recognised as a 
sovereign and independent State by the Principal Allied and Asso- 
ciated Powers; and 

Whereas under the Treaty of Peace concluded with Germany by the 
Allied and Associated Powers, a Treaty of which Poland is a sig- 
natory, certain portions of the former German Empire will be in- 
corporated in the territory of Poland ; and 

Whereas under the terms of the said Treaty of Peace, the bounda- 
ries of Poland not already laid down are to be subsequently deter- 
mined by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers; 

The United States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy 
and Japan, on the one hand, confirming their recognition of the 
Polish State, constituted within the said limits as a sovereign and 
independent member of the Family of Nations, and being anxious 
to ensure the execution of the provisions of Article 93 of the said 
Treaty of Peace with German}^ ; 

Poland, on the other hand, desiring to conform her institutions to 
the principles of liberty and justice, and to give a sure guarantee to 
the inhabitants of the territory over which she has assumed sover- 
eignty; 

i^'or this purpose the High Contracting Parties represented as 
follows : 
The President of the United States of America, by: 

The Honourable Woodrow Wilson, President of the United 
States, acting in his own name and by his own proper au- 
thority ; 
The Honourable Robert Lansing. Secretary of State; 
The Honourable Henry White, formerly Ambassador Extraor- 
dinarv and Plenipotentiarv of the United States at Rome and 
Paris'; 
The Honourable Edward M. House ; 

General Tasker H. Bliss, Military Representative of the United 
States on the Supreme War Council ; 
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Em- 
peror of India, by : 
The Right Honourable David Lloyd George, M.P., First Lord 

of His Treasury and Prime Minister; 
The Right Honourable Andrew Bonar Law, M.P., His Lord 

Privy Seal ; 
The Right Honourable Viscount Milner, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., His 

Secretary of State for the Colonies; 
The Right Honourable Arthur James Balfour, O.M,, M.P., His 
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; 



TKEATY WITH POLAND. 9 

The Eicrht Honourable George Nicoll Barnes, M.P., Minister 
without portfolio ; 
And 
Yov the Dominion of Canada, by : 

The Honourable Charles Joseph Doherty, Minister of Justice; 
The Honourable Arthur Lewis Sifton, Minister of Customs; 
For the Commonwealth of Australia, by : 

The Right Honourable William Morris Hughes, Attorney Gen- 
eral and Prime Minister; 
The Eight Honourable Sir Joseph Cook, G.C.M.G., Minister 
for the Navy ; 
For the Union of South Africa, by : 

General the Rijrht Honourable Louis Botha, Minister of Native 

Affairs and Prime Minister; 
Lieutenant-General the Right Honourable Jan Christiaan 
Smuts, K.C., Minister of Defence; 
For the Dominion of New Zealand, by : 

The Right Honourable William Ferguson Massey, Minister of 
Labour and Prime Minister ; 
For India, bv : 

The Right Honoural)le Edwin Samuel Montagu, M.P., His 

Secretary of State for India ; 
Major-General His Hiahness Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Ba- 
hadur, Maharaja of ^ Bikaner, G.C.'S.L, G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., 
K.C.B., A.D.C.; 
The President of the French Republic, by : 

Mr. Georges Clemeneeau, President of the Council, Minister of 

War; 
Mr. Stephen Pichon, Minister of Foreign Affairs; 
Mr. Louis Lucieii Klotz, ]Minister of Finance; 
Mr. Andre Tardieu, Connnissary General for Franco- American 

Military Affairs; 
Mr. Jules' Cambon, Ambassador of France; 
His Majesty the King of Italy, by: 
Baron S. Sonnino, Deputy; 
Marquis G. Imperiali, Senator, Ambassador of His Majesty the 

King of Italy at London ; 
Mr. S.' Crespi, Deputy ; 
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, by: 

Marquis Saionzi, formerly President of the Council of Min- 
isters ; 
Baron Ma kino, formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member 

of the Diplomatic Council; 
A^iscount Chinda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo- 

tentiarv of H.M. the Emperor of Japan at London; 
Mr. K. Matsui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 

of H.M. the Emperor of Japan at Paris ; 
Mr. H. Ijuin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
of H.M. the Emperor of Japan at Rome ; 
^lie President of the Polish Repubhc, by: 

Mr. Ignace J. Paderewski, President of the Council of Ministers, 

Minister of Foreign Affairs; 
Mr. Roman Dmowski, President of the Polish National Com- 
mittee ; 



10 TREATY WITH POLAND. 

After having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due 
form, have agreed as follows: 

CHAPTER I. 

Article 1. 

Poland undertakes that the stipulations contained in Articles 2 to 
8 of this Chapter shall be recognised as fundamental laws, and that 
no law, regulation or official action shall, conflict or interfere with 
these stipulations, nor shall any law, regulation or official action pre- 
vail over them. 

Article 2. 

Poland undertakes to assure full and complete protection of life 
and liberty to all inhabitants of Poland without distinction of birth, 
nationality, language, race or religion. 

All inhabitants of Poland shall be entitled to the free exercise, 
whether public or private, of any creed, religion or belief, whose 
practices are not inconsistent with public order or public morals. 

Article 3. 

Poland admits and declares to be Polish nationals ipso facto and 
without the requirement of any formality German, Austrian, Hun- 
garian or Russian nationals habituall}^ resident at the date of the 
coming into force of the present Treaty in territory which is or may 
be recognised as forming part of Poland, but subject to any provi- 
sions in the Treaties of Peace with Germany or Austria respectively 
relating to persons who became resident in such territory after a 
specified date. 

Nevertheless, the persons referred to above who are over eighteen 
years of age will be entitled under the conditions contained in the 
said Treaties to opt for any other nationality which may be open to 
them. Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by par- 
ents will cover their children under eighteen years of age. 

Persons who have exercised the above right to opt must, except 
where it is otherwise provided in the Treaty of Peace with Germany, 
transfer within the succeeding twelve months their place of residence 
to the State for which they have opted. They will be entitled to 
retain their immovable property in Polish territory. They may 
carry with them their movable property of every description. No 
export duties may be imposed upon them in connection with the 
removal of such property. 

Article 4. 

Poland admits and declares to be Polish nationals ipso facto and 
without the requirement of any formality persons of German, Aus- 
trian, Hungarian or Russian nationality who w-ere born in the said 
territor}?^ of parents habitually resident there, even if at the date of 
the coming into force of the present Treaty they are not themselves 
habitually resident there. 

Nevertheless, within two years after the coming into force of the 
present Treaty, these persons may make a declaration before the 



TREATY WITH POLAND. 11 

competent Polish authorities in the country in which they are resi- 
dent, stating that they abandon Polish nationality, and they will then 
cease to be considered as Polish nationals. In this connection a 
declaration by a husband will cover his wife, and a declaration by 
parents will cover their children under eighteen years of age. 

Article 5. 

Poland undertakes to put no hindrance in the way of the exercise 
of the right which the persons concerned have, under the Treaties 
concluded or to be concluded by the Allied and Associated Powers 
with German}', Austria, Plungary or Russia, to choose whether or 
not they will acquire Polish nationality. 

Article 6. 

All persons born in Polish territory who are not born nationals of 
another State shall ipso facto become Polish nationals. 

Article 7. 

All Polish nationals shall be equal before the law and shall en- 
joy the same civil and political rights without distinction as to race, 
language or religion. 

Differences of religion, creed or confession shall not prejudice any 
Polish national in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or politi- 
cal rights, as for instance admission to public employments, func- 
tions and honours, or the exercise of professions and industries. 

No restriction shall be imposed on the free use by any Polish 
national of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, in 
religion, in the j^ress or in publications of any kind, or at public 
meetings. 

Notwithstanding any establishment by the Polish Government 
of an official language, adequate facilities shall be given to Polish 
nationals of non-Polish speech for the use of their language, either 
orally or in writing, before the courts. 

Article 8. 

Polish nationals who belong to racial, religious or linguistic 
minorities shall enjoy the same treatment and security in law and 
in fact as the other Polish nationals. In particular they shall have 
an equal right to establish, manage and control at their own expense 
charitable, religious and social institutions, schools and other educa- 
tional establishments, with the right to use their own language anu 
to exercise their religion freely therein. 

Article 9. 

Poland will provide in the public educational system in towns and 
districts in which a considerable proportion of Polish nationals of 
other than Polish speech are residents adequate facilities for ensuring 
that in the primary schools the instruction shall be given to the 
children of such Polish nationals through the medium of their own 
languao-e This provision shall not prevent the Polish Government 
from making the teaching of the Polish language obligatory m the 
said schools. 



12 TKEATY WITH POLAND. 

In towns and districts where there is a considerable proportion 
of Polish nationals belonging to racial, religious or linguistic 
minorities, these minorities shall be assured an equitable share in the 
enjoyment and application of the sums wliich may be provided out 
of public funds under the State, nnuiicipal or other budget, for 
educational, religious or charitable purposes. 

The provisions of this Article shall apply to Polish citizens of 
German speech only in that part of Poland which was German terri- 
tory on August 1, 1914. 

Article 10. 

Educational Committees appointed locally by the Jewish com- 
munities of Poland will, subject to the general control of the State, 
provide for the distribution of the proportional share of public 
funds allocated to Jewish schools in accoi'dance with Article 9, and 
for the organisation and management of these schools. 

The provisions of Article 9 concerning the use of languages in 
schools shall apply to these schools. 

Article 11. 

Jews shall not be compelled to perform any act which constitutes 
a violation of their Sabbath, nor shall they be placed under any 
disability by reason of their refusal to attend courts of law or to 
perform any legal business on their Sabbath. Tliis provision how- 
ever shall not exempt Jews from such obligations as shall be imposed 
upon all other Polish citizens for the necessary purposes of military 
service, national defence or the preservation of public order. 

Poland declares her intention to refrain from ordering or permit- 
ting elections, wdiether general or local, to be held on a Saturday, nor 
will registration for electoral or other purposes be compelled to be 
performed on a Saturday. 

Article 12. 

Poland agrees that the stipulations in the foregoing Articles, so 
far as they affect persons belonging to racial, religious or linguistic 
minorities, constitute obligations of international concern and shall 
be placed under the guarantee of the League of Nations. They shall 
not be modified without the assent of a majority of the Council of 
the League of Nations. The United States, the British Empire, 
France, Italy and Japan hereby agree not to withhold their assent 
from any modification in these Articles which is in due form assented 
to by a majority of the Council of the League of Nations. 

Poland agrees that any Member of the Council of the League of 
Nations shall have the right to bring to the attention of the Council 
any infraction, or any danger of infraction, of any of these obliga- 
tions, and that the council may thereupon take such action and give 
such direction as it may deem proper and eifective in the circum- 
stances. 

Poland further agrees that any difference of opinion as to ques- 
tions of law or fact arising out of these Articles between the Polish 
Government and any one of the Principal Allied and Associated 
Powers or any other Power, a Member of the Council of the League 



TREATY WITH POLAND. 13 

of Nations, shall be held to be a dispute of an international character 
under Article 14 of the Covenant of the League of Nations. The 
Polish Government hereby consents that any such dispute shall, if 
the other party thereto demands, be referred to the Permanent Court 
of International Justice. The decision of the Permanent Court shall 
be final and shall have the same force and effect as an award under 
Article 13 of the Covenant. 

CHAPTER II. 
Article 13. 

Each of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers on the one 
part and Poland on the other shall be at liberty to appoint diplomatic 
representatives to reside in their respective capitals, as well as 
Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular agents to re- 
side in the towns and ports of their respective territories. 

Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls and Consular agents, how- 
ever, shall not enter upon their duties until they have been admitted 
in the usual manner by the Government in the territory of which 
they are stationed, 

Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls and Consular agents shall 
enjoy all the facilities, privileges, exemptions and immunities of 
every kind which are or shall be granted to consular officers of the 
most favoured nation. 

Article 14. 

Pending the establishment of an import tariff by the Polish Gov- 
ernment, goods originating in the Allied and Associated States shall 
not be subject to any higher duties on importation into Poland than 
the most favourable rates of duty applicable to goods of the same 
kind under either the German, Austro-Hungarian or Russian Cus- 
toms Tariffs on July 1, 1914. 

Article 15. 

Poland undertakes to make no treaty, convention or arrangement 
and to take no other action which will prevent her from joining in 
any general agreement for the equitable treatment of the commerce 
of other States that may be concluded under the auspices of the 
League of Nations within five years from the coming into force of 
the present Treaty. 

Poland also undertakes to extend to all the Allied and Associated 
States any favours or privileges in customs matters which she may 
grant during the same period of five years to any State with which 
since August, 1914, the Allies have been at war, or to any State 
which may have concluded with Austria special customs arrange- 
ments as provided for in the Treaty of Peace to be concluded with 
Austria. 

Article 16. 

Pending the conclusion of the general agreement referred to above, 
Poland undertakes to treat on the same footing as national vessels 
or vessels of the most favoured nation the vessels of all the Allied 



14 TKEATY WITH POLAND. A AOA QOA JA-| C 

and Associated States which accord similar treatment to Polisii 
vessels. 

By way of exception from this provision, the right of Poland or 
of any other Allied or Associated State to confine her maritime coast- 
ing trade to national vessels is expressly reserved. 

Article 17. 

Pending the conclusion under the auspices of the League of 
Nations of a general Convention to secure and maintain freedom of 
communications and of transit, Poland undertakes to accord freedom 
of transit to persons, goods, vessels, carriages, wagons and mails in 
transit to or from any Allied or Associated State over Polish terri- 
tory, including territorial waters, and to treat them at least as 
favourably as the persons, goods, vessels, carriages, wagons and 
mails respectively of Polish or of any other more favoured nation- 
ality, origin, importation or ownership, as regards facilities, charges, 
restrictions, and all other matters. 

All charges imposed in Poland on such traffic in transit shall be 
reasonable naving regard to the conditions of the traffic. Goods in 
transit shall be exempt from all customs or other duties. Tariffs 
for transit traffic across Poland and tariffs between Poland and any 
Allied or Associated Power involving through tickets or waybills 
shall be established at the request of that Allied or Associated Power. 

Freedom of transit will extend to postal, telegraphic and telephonic 
services. 

It is agreed that no Allied or Associated Power can claim the 
benefit of these provisions on behalf of any part of its territory in 
which reciprocal treatment is not accorded in respect of the same 
subject matter. 

If within a period of five years from the coming into force of the 
present Treaty no general Convention as aforesaid shall have been 
concluded under the auspices of the League of Nations, Poland shall 
be at liberty at any time thereafter to give twelve months notice to 
the Secretary General of the LeagTie of Nations to terminate the 
obligations of this Article. 

Article 18. 

Pending the conclusion of a general Convention on the Interna- 
tional Eegime of waterways, Poland undertakes to apply to the 
river system of the Vistula (including the Bug and the Narev) the 
regime applicable to International Waterways set out in Articles 332 
to 337 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany. 

Article 19. 

Poland undertakes to adhere within twelve months of the coming 
into force of the present Treaty to the International Conventions 
specified in Annex I. 

Poland undertakes to adhere to any new convention, concluded 
with the approval of the Council of the League of Nations within 
five years of the coming into force of the present Treaty, to replace 
any of the International instruments specified in Annex I. 



TREATY WITH POLAND. 15 

The Polish Government undertakes within twelve months to notify 
the Secretary General of the League of Nations whether or not Po- 
land desires to adhere to either or both of the International Conven- 
tions specified in Annex II. 

Until Poland has adhered to the two Conventions last specified in 
Annex I, she agrees, on condition of reciprocity, to protect by effec- 
tive measures the industrial, literary and artistic property of na- 
tionals of the Allied and Associated States. In the case of any 
Allied or Associated State not adhering to the said Conventions 
Poland agrees to continue to afford such effective protection on the 
same conditions until the conclusions of a special bi-lateral treaty 
or agreement for that purpose with such Allied or Associated State. 

Pending her adhesion to the other Conventions specified in Annex 
I, Poland will secure to the nationals of the Allied and Associated 
Powers the advantages to which they would be entitled under the 
said Conventions. 

Poland further agrees, on condition of reciprocity, to recognise 
and protect all rights in any industrial, literary or artistic property 
belonging to the nationals of the Allied and Associated States in 
force, or which but for the war w^ould have been in force, in any 
part of her territories before transfer to Poland. For such pur- 
pose she will accord the extensions of time agreed to in Articles 307 
and 308 of the Treaty with Germany. 

ANNEX I. 
TELEGRAPHIC AND RADIO-TELEGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS. 

International Telegraphic Convention signed at St. Petersburg, 
July 10/22, 1875. 

Regulations and Tariffs drawn up by the International Telegraph 
Conference, signed at Lisbon, June 11, 1908. 

International Radio-Telegraphic Convention, July 5, 1912. 

RAILWAY CONVENTIONS. 

Conventions and arrangements signed at Berne on October 14, 
1890, September 20, 1893, July 16, 1895, June 16, 1898, and Sep- 
tember 19, 1906, and the current supplementary provisions made 
under those Conventions. 

Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the sealing of railway 
ti'ucks subject to customs inspection, and Protocol of May 18, 1907. 

Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the technical standardisa- 
tion of railways, as modified on May 18, 1907, 

SANITARY CONVENTION. 

Convention of December 3, 1903. 

OTHER CONVENTIONS. 

Convention of September 26, 1906, for the suppression of night 
\\'ork for women. 

Convention of September 26, 1906, for the suppression of the use 
of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches. 



16 TREATY WITH POLAND. 

Convention of May 18, 1904 and May 4, 1910, regarding the sup- 
pression of the White Shive Traffic. 

Convention of May 4, 1910, regarding the suppression of obscene 
publications. 

International Convention of Paris of March 20, 1883, as revised 
at Washington in 1911, for the protection of industrial property. 

International Convention of Berne of September 9, 1886, revised 
at Berlin on November 13, 1908, and completed by the Additional 
Protocol signed at Berne on March 20, 1914, for the Protection of 
Literary and Artistic Work. 

ANNEX II. 

Agreement of Madrid of April 14, 1891, for the Prevention of 
False Indications of origin on goods, revised at Washington in 1911,, 
and 

Agreement of Madrid of 14 April, 1891, for the international 
registration of trade marks, revised at Washington in 1911. 

Article 20. 

All I'ights and privileges accorded by the foregoing Articles to 
the Allied and Associated States shall be accorded equally to all 
States members of the League of Nations. 

Article 21. 

Poland agrees to assume responsibility for such proportion of the 
Kussian public debt and other Russian public liabilities of any kind 
as may be assigned to her under a special convention between the 
Principal Allied and Associated Powers on the one hand and Poland 
on the other, to be prepared by a Commission appointed by the above 
States. In the event of the Commission not arriving at an agree- 
ment the point at issue shall be referred for immediate arbitration 
to the League of Nations. 

The present Treaty, of which the French and English texts are 
both authentic, shall "be ratified. It shall come into force at the same 
time as the Treaty of Peace with Germany. 

The deposit of ratifications shall be made at Paris. 

Powers of which the seat of the Government is outside Europe will 
be entitled merely to inform the Government of the French Republic 
through their diplomatic representative at Paris that their ratifica- 
tion has been given ; in that case they must transmit the instrument 
of ratification as soon as possible. 

A proces-verbal of the deposit of ratifications will be drawn up. 

The French Government will transmit to all the signatory Powers 
a certified copy of the proces-verbal of the deposit of ratifications. 

In faith whereof the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed 
the present Treaty. 

Done at Versailles, the twenty-eighth day of June, one thousand 
nine hundred and nineteen, in a single copy which will remain de- 
posited in the archives of the French Republic, and of which authenti- 
cated copies will be transmitted to each of the Signatory Powers. 

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